Painting apparatus

Abstract

A paint apparatus is disclosed having a plurality of trays for use with a paint roller. A paint reservoir within each tray retains the paint. A grid portion is integrally formed in a lower surface of the paint apparatus, and has a plurality of channels and/or projections. The channels are curved, thereby providing increased surface area for the paint roller. The paint apparatus is also included in a kit containing paint application devices, practice paper, and instructional materials. The paint apparatus is further provided with a metering system which includes a plurality of grids and a mesh structure. The stackable grids are placed within the paint reservoir and permit the paint to wick up to a top surface of the stackable grids. During use of the apparatus, a user fills the paint reservoir with paint to a point below the top surface of the stackable grids. The user the rolls the rolling device over the grids, thereby loading the nap portion with paint. As a result, a roller is loaded with an appropriate amount of paint for painting on a wall surface. Another metering device provided is a metering mesh which is secured over the paint reservoir.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A paint apparatus for containing paint and usable with a painting application device that includes a paint roller for receiving the paint, the paint apparatus comprising: 
       a plurality of walls;  
       a lower surface contiguous with the walls, the lower surface and plurality of walls forming an open box;  
       at least one divider disposed within the walls forming a plurality of individual trays, the at least one divider connected with the lower surface and extending from one of the plurality of walls toward an opposite one of the plurality of walls;  
       a paint unloading section integrally formed with the lower surface, the paint unloading section including at least one channel for returning excess paint in the direction of gravity; and  
       a paint distribution section integrally formed with the lower surface, the paint distribution section separate from the paint unloading section and including a plurality of projections extending from the lower surface for distributing paint on the painting application device.  
     
     
       2. The paint apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of walls comprises an end wall and at least two of the plurality of wails comprise side walls disposed substantially parallel to one another, the side walls connected to the end wall. 
     
     
       3. The paint apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the lower surface slopes downward toward the end wall providing each individual tray of the paint apparatus with a variable depth. 
     
     
       4. The paint apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one divider is disposed substantially parallel to the side walls. 
     
     
       5. The paint apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the paint unloading section comprises a plurality of channels. 
     
     
       6. The paint apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of channels extend in a generally parallel direction relative to the side walls of the paint apparatus. 
     
     
       7. The paint apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each individual tray comprises at least one channel. 
     
     
       8. The paint apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each at least one channel is disposed in a generally parallel direction relative to the side walls of the paint apparatus. 
     
     
       9. The paint apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one divider has a height that generally keeps the paint contained in one individual tray from mixing with the paint contained in an adjacent individual tray. 
     
     
       10. The paint apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the paint distribution section is substantially adjacent to the paint unloading section. 
     
     
       11. The paint apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of walls, the lower surface and the at least one divider are comprised of plastic material. 
     
     
       12. A paint apparatus for containing paint and usable with a painting application device that includes a paint roller for receiving the paint, the paint apparatus comprising: 
       a plurality of walls;  
       a lower surface contiguous with the walls to form an open box, the lower surface having a paint unloading section including at least one channel for returning excess paint in the direction of gravity, and a paint distribution section separate from the paint unloading section and including a plurality of projections extending from the lower surface for distributing paint on the painting application device; and  
       a divider connected with the lower surface and extending from one of the plurality of walls toward an opposite one of the plurality of walls to form a plurality of individual trays in the paint apparatus.  
     
     
       13. The paint apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the paint unloading section is integrally formed with the lower surface. 
     
     
       14. The paint apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the paint distribution section is integrally formed with the lower surface. 
     
     
       15. The paint apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the paint distribution section is substantially adjacent to the paint unloading section. 
     
     
       16. The paint apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the paint distribution section is in fluidic connection with the paint unloading section. 
     
     
       17. The paint apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the one of the plurality of walls from which the divider extends comprises an end wall. 
     
     
       18. The paint apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the lower surface slopes toward the end wall providing each individual tray of the paint apparatus with a variable depth.